PIA Press ReleaseMonday, January 09, 2012

Budget for SETUP increased by 100 %

by Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 9 (PIA) -- Science and Technology Department has increased its budget allocation for its Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading (SETUP) program by 100 percent for a wider and better assistance to its manufacturing and processing enterprises-beneficiries.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director Brenda Nazareth-Manzano said from a P 10.2 million budget, SETUP’s budget is now up to P20 million which translates to 40 projects as against the 20 projects in the previous budget.

DOST helps the manufacturing and processing enterprises under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through SETUP program, a nationwide strategy to assist the latter in adopting technological innovations to advance their operations. Result is: an improved productivity and competitiveness at par with the global market.

“Our goal here is to improve productivity through technological interventions to produce more with less,” the active lady director said.

Manzano said SETUP program helps the applicants acquire equipment needed to improve productivity back to back with trainings on how to use the newly acquired machine or equipment.

Under SETUP, DOST will pay for the machine needed by the particular beneficiary/applicant, as the latter will pay the office back on a three year “rent-to-own” scheme.

Director Manzano encouraged MSMEs to apply for the program by submitting their project proposal.

She said any company owned by a Filipino or any small and medium scale business under its priority sectors (food processing; furniture; gifts, decors, handicrafts; marine and aquatic resources; horticulture; and metal and engineering), or an individual firm willing to apply technological improvement to existing operations may apply for the program. (JPA /PIA ZBST)